When Jiang Yinghe returned to the meditation room, Abbot Chan Qing was righting the incense burners that had fallen over and rekindling the incense.
The rich fragrance of sandalwood spread out. It settled Jiang Yinghe and let him send his divine sense back into the water mirror.
However, he was still somewhat apprehensive as to what he would see this time. Jiang Yinghe was by no means weak-minded after viewing the previous two back to back, but that didnât mean he wanted to see such tragic pasts.
But this time was even stranger than the last. The surrounding fog remained empty with no signs of change.
âŠThe mirror canât show it?
Jiang Yinghe waited a moment longer to no avail. He withdrew his divine sense and looked up at Qin Jun.
The man had just returned to his side, so he was unaware of what had happend. He returned his shizunâs gaze before asking, âWhatâs wrong?â
Jiang Yinghe sighed softly, ââŠNothing. Letâs go back.â
The dust had settled on Tong Guiyuâs matter, so Jiang Yinghe only needed to follow the instructions in his book of âLast Wordsâ to ensure the transition of power in He Huan Sect proceeded smoothly.
Jiang Yinghe hadnât yet investigated Tong Guiyuâs chosen successor, but he was not too worried, because he trusted his friendâs decision. He decided to return to Peng Lai until that person officially took over the position.
On the way back, a cold drizzle began to fall, carrying with it the feeling of autumn approaching.
As the sound of the rain faded, the moon rose above the White Crane Jade Manor. The spirit cranes settled down to sleep under the night sky.
The little white cat lying in Jiang Yingheâs arms shifted to a more comfortable position, snuggling with him as it drifted off.
Jiang Yinghe glanced at the taskâs progress bar. Only Jun-erâs portion was left. He slowly set down his book and recalled that water mirror. What was it trying to show?
Before his thoughts consumed him, a hand grasped his wrist. Jiang Yinghe looked up, but was unable to get a word out before the other person took him into his arms and carried him to the bed.
The white cat in his lap immediately woke up and jumped onto the edge of the bed, glaring at Qin Jun who had suddenly barged in.
âLi Huanhan said that Shizun was looking into our past and future.â Qin Jun sat on the bed with him. âThe process was over rather quickly when it was my turn. Did you get to see anything?â
Jiang Yinghe was stunned for a moment. âIâŠâ
âOn the way back,â Qin Jun stared at him, âyou were preoccupied and clearly wanted to say something. What was on your mind?â
Jiang Yinghe was bombarded with too many questions to come up with an excuse. Before he could answer, the other person spoke again.
âIf the artifact was ineffective, why not just ask me?â
Qin Junâs hair was untied at the moment. The silver-grey strands flowed down to cover one side of Jiang Yingheâs pillow. The manâs eyes lightened from a steely grey to the colour of smoke as he looked over.
When Jiang Yinghe still didnât respond, Qin Jun came close and kissed him gently again, whispering, âOr is Shizun planning to give up? Are you not at all curious about my past?â
Although his tone and expression both seemed normal, strangely enough Jiang Yinghe heard a strange hint of jealousy in those words.
He thought about it before saying, âItâs not that, itâs becauseâŠIâve seen the pasts of those twoâŠThey were far tooâŠâ
Jiang Yinghe paused and turned to him, âI know you wouldâve told me if I had asked, but purposely making others relive sad moments is to be an accomplice to their suffering. Thatâs why I didnât ask. Itâs not that I donât value youâŠWuâŠâ
Qin Junâs kiss wasnât unpredictable and intense like Li Huanhanâs. It was mellow and slow, steadily advancing deeper within and probing all the warmth contained in the otherâs mouth.
After removing his surface layer, one could peer into his insidiously spreading encroachment that silently came inside.
This was easier for Jiang Yinghe to accept. He stilled as Qin Jun interlocked their fingers and pressed him onto the bed.
The candle flickered faintly.
This was the scene Li Huanhan saw when he returned to the White Crane Jade Manor. He stopped for a moment, his blood red eyes flickering from dark to light and back again. In the end, all of his turbulent emotions were suppressed.
He picked up the cat by the scruff of his neck with one hand and expressionlessly watched from the sidelines for a while.
Jiang Yinghe was an active participant at first, but the more Qin Jun kissed him the dizzier he became. It was only when he heard Li Huanhanâs footsteps that he jolted to attention once more. For some reason, he felt like he had been caught cheating in bed.
Naturally, the other person could immediately detect Jiang Yingheâs change in demeanour. He let go before his shizun pushed him away. Qin Jun raised a finger to wipe his slightly red lips, whispering, âAre you not willing to be kissed by me?â
What do you mean by that? Werenât you the guy that leaned in just now, the guy notorious for never letting go after getting a kiss?? What a shameless question.
Jiang Yinghe glanced at Li Huanhan, who was drinking tea nearby, before turning back to Qin Jun. He swallowed dryly, feeling like he had lost control of his courtyard for some reason.
âIâm not unwilling.â Jiang Yinghe could sense Li Huanhan stop turning his teacup with those words, but he had no choice. Qin Junâs threat level was too great because of how close he was, yet Jiang Yinghe didnât begrudge this. Thus, he could only say, ââŠIt was just too sudden.â
Qin Jun raised a hand to wipe at the corners of his reddened eyes, whispering, âThatâs not it, itâs because Li-shixiong came in.â
Jiang Yingheâs inner thoughts were instantly exposed. He didnât know why this guyâs aged vinegar was so sour, even though they were the same personâŠ
âDoes Shizun only like him?â Qin Jun asked a question he clearly knew the answer to (no) before sincerely kissing him again. âWhat about me?â
Jiang Yingheâs mind was spinning. He didnât know why he seemed to have a harem on fire when he was only in a relationship with one person.
Even if Qin Jun seemed all right on the surface, Jiang Yinghe wouldnât use words to test his bottom line. He calmed himself and soothed the other in a soft voice, âHow could that be? Of course I like you too.â
This guy only becomes more childish as time goes on.
That single sentence was enough for the hidden aura of danger around Qin Jun to fade away. He gave Li Huanhan a look before slightly loosening his grip. Massaging Jiang Yingheâs fingertips, he whispered, âTell him to leave. Iâll be the one by your side tonight. I will tell Shizun everything the water mirror could not.â
Before Jiang Yinghe could reply, the soft sound of a teacup being set down could be heard. Li Huanhanâs emotionless voice sounded.
âQin Jun, donât go too far.â
âŠHuanhanâs about to get angry.
Jiang Yinghe could conclude that from just one sentence. He tried to turn and look, but Qin Jun turned his head back around with one hand, not even allowing him to look at others.
âIf he doesnât leave, is he planning to join in?â
Jiang Yinghe didnât get what he meant by âjoin inâ immediately. Not until the sash of his light green robe was loosened and removed by Qin Jun.
He was taken into the other personâs lap by his waist.
Jiang Yinghe had always been sensitive to this sort of thing. His tolerance only improved slightly after his disciples wreaked havoc on him a few times. However, the current situation was still too much.
He gripped the shoulder of Qin Junâs clothes anxiously, ââŠDonât mess with me like this, Iââ
He was just about to say that it was fine if the water mirror couldnât show it, that he didnât have to know. But then Jiang Yinghe recalled Qin Junâs previous words. He suddenly stopped speaking because he was worried his disciple would think that he didnât value him again.
This brief pause was enough for his lips to be sealed by a kiss. Jiang Yingheâs hold on Qin Junâs clothes tightened violently.
Outside the door, the sound of rain grew fainter. Moonlight entered through the window.
Jiang Yingheâs inky hair was loose. Soft and tangled, the strands slid by his shoulders, swaying slightly with his movements.
When his fingers were clenched, the slender digits appeared especially streamlined and beautiful, almost like carved works of art. Due to being kissed until he was out of breath, the corners of his eyes became faintly flushed. His lips also swelled, adorned with scattered teeth marks.
As the snow melted into water, he sank tenderly into the otherâs embrace.
Qin Jun hugged him tighter and asked quietly with their lips pressed together, âSo Shizun is letting him stay?â
Of course Jiang Yinghe knew that Qin Jun was jealous just from the vinegar dripping from his every word. But he didnât send Huanhan out after a moment of difficult consideration.
Jun-er has always been the most composed one. Even if he was eating vinegar, he wouldnât act too excessively.
Qin Jun paused slightly and sighed into his ear, ââŠWhen he tosses you around, you always burrow into my arms.â
Jiang Yingheâs ears turned red. Qin Junâs breath was next to his ear, spreading in bursts that almost soaked his skin through.
âWhen he makes you cry, itâs Jun-er who wipes away your tears.â Qin Jun continued, âIf I could, I wouldnât consider such things, because just keeping you by my side is enough⊠But how could Shizun blatantly favour him so, just because Iâve been good to you?â
This sincerity in his voice made Jiang Yinghe completely forget about how he was tricked into doing it the last two times, or how he had been completely eaten clean. Filled with guilt, he took the initiative to kiss Qin Jun softly. ââŠItâs not favouritism, itâs because you listen to me the most. â
After saying it aloud, Jiang Yinghe felt like real scum. Making the more mature child endure more hardship really didnât mesh with his values as an educator. He thought it over some more before offering some words of comfort, âYouâre the one I trust the most. YouâŠâ
He was prevented from continuing.
The candles in the White Crane Jade Manor all went out at once, relit with ghostly phosphorus flames. That faint, lingering and cold fragrance spread as the rustling of clothes faded away.
Chang Ye had long since changed from cat to human form. He sat beside Li Huanhan with his chin propped up on one hand. As he watched, he transmitted his voice to the other person, ââŠThis is what you two discussed? How many tricks do you have up your sleeves?â
âWe didnât discuss this.â
ââŠWhat, another tacit agreement since weâre all the same person?â
âSort of.â Li Huanhan stood up and loosened his collar. He glanced at Chang Ye. âThis was bound to happen anyway. AlsoâŠâ
This dog Qin Jun always likes to go first. Of course he has many ways of softening Shizunâs heart and making him agree.
â-
Birds sang in the early morning.
After the autumn rain, the sound of insects and birds chirping on Qing Jing Peak diminished more and more. The camphor tablets in the room were changed out. These precious tablets had a soothing effect.
Jiang Yinghe was in dear need of such a thing.
He thought carefully about the course of last night. The more he did the more he felt like something wasnât right. In hindsight, he felt like he had been set up.
He didnât make Huanhan leave because he was worried about upsetting him. He agreed to dual cultivate with Jun-er for the same reason.
Then things spiraled completely out of his control. At some point, the person grasping his fingers had become Li Huanhan. Although he was gentle, it was a completely different feeling from when it was Qin Jun.
Just like what Jun-er said, Jiang Yinghe hid in his arms when he couldnât take anymore of Huanhanâs bullyingâŠ
How humiliating.
And if it wasnât for his little disciple being sweet and attentive by using his tail to pad Jiang Yingheâs back the whole time and lessen the blows, he mightâve not been able to hold on.
No matter how I think about itâŠthis isâŠdefinitely collusion, okayâŠ